Automatic lock sliders for separable fastener stringers



March 1962 1.. H. MORlN 3,026,590

AUTOMATIC LOCK SLIDERS FOR SEPARABLE FASTENER STRINGERS Filed Jan. 28, 196955 57 29 4? 6 4 INVENTOR. Lou/5 H Mom/v Q W W HTTORA/EY Louis H. Morin, Bronx, N.Y. (125 Beechwood Ave, New Rochelle, NY.) Filed Jan. 23, 196i), Ser. No. 5,218 6 Claims. (Cl. 24-20514) This invention relates to sliders for use on separable fastener stringers in coupling and uncoupling said stringers. More particularly, the invention deals with what are known as automatic lock sliders having a spring actuated lock element or yoke for engaging the scoops in retaining the slider against accidental movement on the stringers. Still more particularly, the invention deals with a slider of the character described employing a shield mounted upon the web of the slider and within the pivoted portion of the lock element or yoke to house the upper portion of the spring and the spring seat in said yoke.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 is an enlarged side and sectional view'of a slider made according to my invention, with parts of the structure broken away.

FIG. 2 is a partial plan and sectional view of the heel end portion of the slider; and

FIG. 3 is a bracketed perspective view of the heel end portion of the slider, with the shield detached, preparatory for assemblage with the slider.

Considering FIG. 1 of the drawing, my improved slider comprises a slider body having top and bottom walls 11 and 12 joined at one end of the slider in a connecting web 13. The web 13 forms a division for the conventional channel 14 of sliders of this type and kind. The channel 14 is formed at the contracted end of the slider by inwardly extending flanges 15 and 16 on the walls 11 and 12, respectively.

In the construction shown, the web 13 includes an upwardly or outwardly projecting pivot member or post 17. The pivot member 17 has a transvers aperture 18 arranged above the wall 11 of the slider.

The top wall 11 and web 13 has, rearwardly of the member 17, a recess 19. The forward portion of the top wall 11 has an aperture 20, which opens through the end of said wall and the inner wall of the aperture is indicated at 21 in the broken away portion of the slider.

The contracted end of the wall 11 has an upwardly or outwardly extending yoke-shaped strap 22 which forms a stop, checking outward movement of a lock element or yoke 23.

The lock element 23 is in the form of a die cast bar having a downwardly offset portion 24, one end of which terminates in scoop engaging elements 25. The offset portion 24- has, at its lower end, an outwardly projecting finger 26 which operates in connection with the stop strap 22 to check outward swinging movement of the element 23 when moved outwardly by the fingerpiece pull of the slider, part of this pull being indicated at 27 in FIG. 1 of the drawing.

The other end portion of the element 23 includes side plates 28, note FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawing, and the forward end portions of these plates terminate in rounded Walls 29, note FIG. 1, between which, and the bevelled wall 25 of one of the elements 25, a crossbar 30, forming the pivot end of the pull, operates. It will also appear that the top wall 11 of the slider has an upwardly or outwardly extending stop pin 31 which serves to check outward movement of the pivot 30 to eliminate strain in engagement of 26 with 22.

Joining the side plates 28 near the free ends thereof is a bridging portion 32, including a downwardly extending lug 33 for localizing the upper end portion of a coil spring 34 thereon. The other end portion of the spring 34 seats on the bottom wall 19 of the recess 19, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 1 in normal support of the elements 25 in operative position with scoops arranged in the channel 14 of the slider.

The upper end of the pivot member or post 17 has a pair of projecting studs 35, which extend into apertures 36, note FIG. 3, of a housing shield 37, the shield being secured in position by riveting-over the studs 35, as clearly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing. In casting the slider, the studs 35 are normally cast, as diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawing, to freely receive the apertures 36 of the shield, preparatory to the riveting-over operation. This operation is performed after the yoke 23 has been attached to the pivot member 17.

The plates 28 of the yoke have inwardly extending pivot portions 38, which are normally positioned to pass freely over the member 17 and then, by applying pressure to outer surfaces of the plates, the pivot portions 38 are extended into the aperture 18 in establishing the pivotal mounting of the yoke on the member 17.

The shield 37 includes a downwardly extending end portion 39, terminating in a reduced projecting tongue 40 which seats in an aperture 41 in what may be termed the heel portion 42 of the slider body, note FIG. 3 of the drawing.

Considering FIG. 2 of the drawing, it will appear that the shield 37 fits snugly but freely within the walls 28 of the yoke 23 so as to not interfere in any way with free swinging movement of the yoke. However, it will be apparent that the bridging member 32, as well as the spring 34, will be substantially concealed.

In addition to functioning as a housing, the shield 37 performs another important function, namely preventing movement of the lock element or yoke 23 into inoperative position by any pressure which might be applied to, for example, the free end portions of the side plates 28, which would have the tendency to move the elements 25 out of engagement with the scoops of the stringer. With automatic lock sliders of the type and kind under consideration, this action has oftentimes taken place, causing accidental opening of a garment simply by pressure of another garment upon the slider. The shield acts as a check or stop resisting any such accidental movement of the lock element or yoke 23 into inoperative position. It will appear, from a consideration of FIG. 1 of the drawing, that the lock element is shown in its normal locked position and, in such position, the upper or exposed surfaces of the plates 28 are either in alinement with or within outer exposed surfaces of the shield 37.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A look slider comprising a channelled slider body defined by upper and lower walls joined by a connecting web, an upwardly projecting post on the upper wall over said web, a lock element pivoted on said post below the top thereof, there being a recess in said web opening through the upper surface thereof, the lock element including a part extending in the direction of said recess, and a shield fixed to said post and arranged within side boundary edges of the lock element at one end thereof when said lock element is in operative position to prevent depression of said end of the lock element externally of the slider.

2. A look slider comprising a channelled slider body defined by upper and lower walls joined by a connecting web, an upwardly projecting post on the upper wall over said web, a lock element pivoted on said post below the top thereof, there being a recess in said web opening through the upper surface thereof, the lock element including a part extending in the direction of said recess, a shield fixed to said post and arranged within side boundary edges of the lock element at one end thereof when said lock element is in operative position to prevent depression of said end of the lock element externally of the slider, said lock element including a spring seating portion disposed over said recess, and a coil spring seating in said recess and on said portion and tensioned to normally support the lock element in operative position.

3. A lock slider comprising a channeled slider body defined by upper and lower walls joined by a connecting web, an upwardly projecting post on the upper wall over said web, a lock element pivoted on said post below the top thereof, there being a recess in said web opening through the upper surface thereof, the lock element including a part extending in the direction of said recess, a shield fixed to said post and arranged within side boundary edges of the lock element at one end thereof when said lock element is in operative position to prevent depression of said end of the lock element externally of the slider, said lock element including a spring seating portion disposed over said recess, a coil spring seating in said recess and on said portion and tensioned to normally support the lock element in operative position, and said shield including a key portion seated in an aperture in the upper surface of the web of the slider body.

4. In a slider of the character described, the body portion of which includes a post projecting from one wall thereof, a lock element pivotally supported intermediate its ends on said post, one end of the lock element comprising a pair of side plates disposed at outer sides of the post, a bridging member joining the side plates in spaced relation to the post, a coil spring seating in the slider body and on said bridging member and tensioned to normally support said element in operative position, a shield fixed to the post and arranged freely within the side plates of said element, said shield housing said bridging member and part of said spring, and exposed surfaces of said shield being in alinement with exposed edges of the side plates when the lock element is in operative position to form a stop, preventing depression of said side plates from an external source which would result in movement of the lock element into inoperative position.

5. In a slider of the character described, the body portion of which includes a post projecting from one wall thereof, a lock element pivotally supported intermediate its ends on said post, one end of the lock element comprising a pair of side plates disposed at outer sides of the post, a bridging member joining the side plates in spaced relation to the post, a coil spring seating in the slider body and on said bridging member and tensioned to normally support said element in operative position, a shield fixed to the post and arranged freely within the side plates of said element, said shield housing said bridging member and part of said spring, exposed surfaces of said shield being in alinement with exposed edges of the side plates when the lock element is in operative position to form a stop, preventing depression of said side plates from an external source which would result in movement of the lock element into inoperative position, and the mounting of the shield on the post comprising stud means keying and alining the shield within the side plates of said lock element.

6. In a slider of the character described, the body portion of which includes a post projecting from one wall thereof, a lock element pivotally supported intermediate its ends on said post, one end of the lock element comprising a pair of side plates disposed at outer sides of the post, a bridging member joining the side plates in spaced relation to the post, a coil spring seating in the slider body and on said bridging member and tensioned to normally support said element in operative position, a shield fixed to the post and arranged freely within the side plates of said element, said shield housing said bridging member and part of said spring, exposed surfaces of said shield being in alinement with exposed edges of the side plates when the lock element is in operative position to form a stop, preventing depression of said side plates from an external source which would result in movement of the lock element into inoperative position, and the fre end portion of said shield including a projecting portion engaging an aperture in the slider body in definitely positioning said free end of the shield on the slider body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,373,523 Winterhalter Apr. 10, 1945 2,487,386 Scheuermann Nov. 8, 1949 2,882,578 Morin Apr. 21, 1959 2,900,695 Morin Aug. 25, 1959, 

